Published 11:42 pm, Friday, April 26, 2013

Today, however, the 6-foot, 5-inch former swingman faces his greatest challenge yet: sharing the court with players who risk running nose first into his kneecaps. He's known as Coach Joe to the children he tutors in private and public basketball clinics in Foster City.

Ellis remembers his eight seasons playing with the Warriors as exciting and enjoyable. After basketball, he joined the corporate world with IBM and later worked for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

Yet the 68-year old feels like he's hit his true stride coaching preschoolers through college students. In fact, working with children is a career the Arkansas native would have pursued if the NBA hadn't grabbed him first.

As a senior at USF, Ellis was selected in the second round of the 1966 draft by the Warriors.

Joe Ellis, who played for USF and the Warriors, talks with students after one of his basketball clinics at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City.

Joe Ellis, who played for USF and the Warriors, talks with students after one of his basketball clinics at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

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Joe Ellis, a former Warriors player, poses for a portrait after teaching a basketball clinic for kids at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City, Calif., on Sunday, April 21, 2013.

Joe Ellis, a former Warriors player, poses for a portrait after teaching a basketball clinic for kids at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City, Calif., on Sunday, April 21, 2013.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

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A modest man, Ellis says he wasn't the most talented player the Warriors could have chosen, but he was simply in the right place at the right time. For the next eight seasons, he played forward and guard and often scored in double figures; during the 1969-1970 season, he averaged a career high 15.8 points per game.

But he finds that coaching children has its own unique rewards.

"I'm in my second childhood and enjoying every minute of it," Ellis said. "They want to know what it was like playing in the olden days and if I played against Michael Jordan," who didn't start playing in the NBA until 1984. "They think basketball started with Michael."

Another frequent question is the size of his shoes. "Big," he laughs. When the kids insist on a number, he simply repeats, "big!"

His basketball clinics, which typically consist of seven to 10 students, can sometimes be chaotic because of the children's different skill levels.

"There are students who know the basics, and others who are first-timers and need some extra coaching," Ellis said, adding with a chuckle, "I try to keep it structured, but some kids have no idea what they're doing."

He also finds it meaningful that parents trust him with their children.

"One doesn't often get this privilege ... a parent's trust that what you are giving their child will help shape their character," he said. "It's an honor to have this opportunity."

That's because Ellis recognizes the importance of positive influences. Just 5 years old when his family moved to Oakland, he soon developed an interest in basketball. He learned the basics from older kids at DeFremery Park and the Oakland Boys Club, but he didn't receive any formal coaching until junior high. At McClymonds High School, his fledgling talents caught the eye of coach Paul Harless.

"He saw potential in me that I didn't know existed and knew how to develop the skills I possessed," Ellis said. "He was a mentor, and through basketball taught me a lot about life and how to deal with different situations. He was a true basketball genius."

Apparently the ball doesn't roll far from the hoop. Ellis shares the very traits he admired in Harless, the man he cites as one of his greatest influences. Larry and Sheri Taman see those characteristics whenever they observe Ellis coaching their 9-year-old son, Jake.

"Ever since Jake was 4, Joe's been an incredibly positive and consistent person in his life," Larry Taman said. He added that what he likes best about Ellis is his ability to combine a firm side along with gentle coaching.

Plus, his NBA credentials carry weight with his students.

"Jake loves basketball and through Joe, the NBA is tangible and represented by a retired player in the most positive manner possible," Taman said.

Asked what he likes best about Coach Joe, Jake is succinct. "He's nice to me and always explains the drills very clearly."

Kelly Yamamoto agrees that Ellis is an exceptional instructor. Her 12-year-old son, Dylan, has been under his tutelage for about two years.

"Of course, (Joe) knows the game inside and out, but it does take someone special to be able to teach that to others, especially kids," she said. "He also strikes me as 'old school' in the sense that he's not flashy and loud. He's a true gentleman."

When asked about his coaching style, Ellis admitted he's low-key. He doesn't condone yelling or screaming, a sharp contrast to recent news coverage capturing what he describes as "coaches behaving badly."

"I believe that if I teach in a calm manner, when my students are in game situations they will remain calm regardless of what's going on," he said. "We practice correct fundamentals over and over again so that they become automatic."

Ellis doesn't ever want his students to have to think about what they are supposed to do in game situations.

"I want them to let the situations dictate what they do," he said, and conveys this approach through positive, constructive criticism.

Surrounded by the familiar sound of squeaking rubber soles on the gym floor, Ellis shared that his greatest challenge isn't about raising skill sets, but more about making sure the children learn while having fun.

"I love seeing them improve and recognize what they've accomplished."

Most rewarding to Ellis, the father of three and grandfather of six, are students who already have a love for the game.

"They're excited about playing!" he said. "They really want to learn and work hard. I love seeing the gleam in their eyes and the smiles on their faces when they do something they didn't believe they could."

Playing professional basketball was never a particular dream for Ellis, but when opportunity knocked, he opened the door. He's grateful that his NBA career allowed him to see the world and to get paid for something that he loved.

"It's a game I would have played for free," he said. "The greatest thing is that I got a chance to do something that a very small percentage of basketball players worldwide achieve."

But that percentage may increase if young Jake Taman has anything to say about it. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, the novice athlete doesn't bat an eye. "A basketball player in the NBA on the Golden State Warriors."